Fighting the Flu

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Let Your Home Fight the Flu for You!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…. “Flu Season” is upon us once again. According to Flu.gov this season “...occurs in the fall and winter. Seasonal flu activity usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as early as October and as late as May.” Though Flu.gov says that the best way to protect oneself against the flu is the flu vaccine, they also have other suggestions for staying healthy on their Prevention of the Flu page:

▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
▪ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
▪ Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
▪ Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
▪ Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
▪ If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

These are all great thing to keep in mind. You do have one other defense against the flu though: your home. You can prepare your home to also fight back against the virus. How? First, look into a humidifier. The flu virus booms in humidity that is 98% and above, or 50% and below, which is why the flu is so common in the dry winter. A humidifier can control the moisture in the air so that your home stays out of the flu humidity threat zones. It is typically recommended that your home stays between 50-60% humidity in order to avoid mold growth and the flu.

How else can we prepare our home? Another way to filter out bacteria and viruses is with an air purifier or filter.
Visit Flu.gov to learn more about the flu. Questions about humidifiers and air purifiers? Contact A.B. May!
Sources: Flu.gov, Air Purifier Reviews,